Catalytic production of hexamethylenediamine from renewable feedstocks

Renewable biomass-derived chemicals have received considerable interest as a potential substitute for petroleum-derived chemicals. Hexamethylenediamine is a key intermediate in manufacturing nylon 66, a synthetic polymer that is broadly used in society. This article reviews the catalytic production of hexamethylenediamine from biomass-derived chemical feedstocks, and specifically the bio-based routes for obtaining hexamethylenediamine. While methods to directly convert biomass to hexamethylenediamine have yet to be commercialized, the use of heterogeneous catalytic systems via combined processes appears to be a promising and emerging chemical pathway to achieve this goal. Current proposed routes for the renewable production of hexamethylenediamine are not yet entirely competitive with petrochemical production techniques, predominantly because of low efficiency and high cost. However, many opportunities exist to advance technologies that exploit renewable and bio-based feedstocks to generate hexamethylenediamine. Thus, the commercialization of biomass-derived nylon monomers appears achievable in the near future.